Instrument for surveying and grading ditches



(No Model.) 2 SheefisSheet 1.

. E. REIGHENBAGH. INSTRUMENT FOR SURVEYING AND GRADING BITCHES.

No. 433,697. Patented Aug. 5, 189() ill .w- [q Q 7 gig-gm 5 w 1 Q m [*1 EH FL. 5 i

i I, x & -51! Ne INVENTOR:

40% 6M GCMM$M ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. REIGHENBAOH. INSTRUMENT FOR SURVEYING AND GRADING DITGHES.

No. 433,697. Patented Aug. 5, 1890.

INVENTOR:

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDYVARD REICHENBAOH, OF ORRVILLE,'OHIO.

INSTRUMENT FOR SURVEYING AND' GRADING DITCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,697, dated August 5, 1890.

Application filed March 27, 1890- Serial No. 345,483. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD REICHENBACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orrville, in the county of 'lVayne and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Instruments for Surveying and Grading Ditches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a leveling-instrument for employment in various works, such as making ditches for draining land, terracing hillsides, grading and leveling roads, lots, &c.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a sectional view of a piece of ground, showing the various parts of the leveling-instrument in position as when used for grading. Fig. 2 shows the adjustable hook to which the reel-line is attached. Figs. 3 and 4 are views of the open-eye, which is adj ust-. able on the center-prop. Figs. 5 and 6 show the swiveling level-adjuster. Fig. 7 shows a front view of the reel, of which a side view on a smaller scale is seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 shows the crank-shaft of the reel. Fig. 9 shows the horizontal spirit-level bar, swiveling adj uster,tri pod, and legs, used as a ditching level. Fig. 10 is a view of the sight-bore and screw.

The body A of the level has a spirit-glass D, and at each end bosses with sight-bores,

which maybe made in auyapproved manner. This part is substantially like that shown and described in my United States Letters Patent No. 340,600, dated May 11, 1886.

One end of the levelbodyA is provided with a set-screw as, which enters at the under side below the sight-boss y. The end of the screw penetrates the. sight-bore, as seen in Fig. 10, and as the screw may be adjusted up or down the screw end serves as a sight in a manner similar to the muzzle-end sight of a gun. This screw as a sight may be adjusted to suit the set position of the spirit-glass D instead of adjusting the latter to suit the sights.

The levelbody A may be mounted in a standard E or on a tripod F, and to enable the level body to be adjusted and properly leveled I employ a swiveled plate a and screws 6 to adjust the plate. The plate a is suitably attached to the under or bottom side of the level-body A, and at its center has a hole through which loosely passes the pivot-pin 0, attached to and projecting up from a base d. The plate a and level-body A may be turned "around on the said pivot c, and also tilted or inclined in any direction, as indicated in Fig. 5. These adjusting-screws I) pass up through the base-plate (Z and are equidistant and have pointed ends which bear up against the swiveled plate a. By this device it will be seen that the level-body A may be adjusted accurately.

The base-plate d is provided on its under side with a central prong or stud fiwhich fits in a socket g on the top of the standard, or on the tripod, as the case maybe. This prong or stud may set in the socket and be held there by friction, or it maybe screwed therein. In the case of the standard E this socket is screwed onto the upper end. (See Fig. 5.) In the case of the tripod F the socket is fixed in a head-block 71 (See Fig. 9.)

WVhen used for grading, as in Fig. 1, the lower ends of the standardsE are setinto the ground G, and a brace-rod I has atone end a crotch i, which rests against the standards E, and at the other end has a foot j, shaped something like a hoe.- This hoe-footj enters the ground, as shown, and prevents the bracerod from pushing outof position. One standard E has an adjustable hook J, which is secured by' an eye or collar 7a, which surrounds the standard and isprovided with a set-screw Z, whose end impinges against the standard. Thus the hook J is adjustable up or down. Both standards in practice have scale-marks and figures denoting inches. One standard has a reel or Windlass L, which is vertically adjustable. This reel is an ordinary spool having a square socket or bore through its center to receive the square crank-shaft m. This shaft is slightly tapering, and one end has a small journal 71. and at the other end a larger journal at. These journals turn in the frame having two side bars 0, the spool or reel L resting between said two bars. A pin 19 passes through the spool and through a hole p in the crank-shaft and keeps the parts in place. At the rear end the framebars 0 are attached to a collar 70, which surrounds the standard 'E, and said collar has a set-screw Z. This collar and set-screw are provided for the vertical adjustment. At the front end the frame-bars are united by a downwardly-curved cross-bar 0', over which the cord passes and which keeps the cord practically at the same height whether the spool be wound nearly full or nearly empty. One side wheel of the reel has ratchet-teeth q,

and a pawl 7', pivoted on the collar 70, en,

gages these teeth and prevents the reel from unwinding. The cord 8 is wound on the reel L at one standard, and in use has one end attached to the adjustable hook J on the other standard. By these devices the cord may be stretched taut and leveled.

A center-prop N is stuck in the ground midway of the standards and has a collart, provided with a set-screw a, for vertical adj ustment. This collar is provided with an open-eye device, consisting, in the present instance, of two bent prongs or hooks a; 1; one

' above the other, with their hook ends projectupon the snrveyors notes it is easy to determine how high to draw the cord above the stakes so as to obtain the desired fall.

The device shown in Fig. 9 shows the level- I body A mounted on a base-plate d, with the same central prong, and socket 9 shown in Fig. 5, and supported 011 tripod-legs. These instruments are used together.

Where the land has not been staked off and surveyed the adjustable level mounted on one of the upright standards E will serveto test the level of thestretched cord by sighting a level line at an ordinary measure-rule set in an upright position at the opposite end of the said cord.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of the level-body A, swiveled plate a, base-plate d, having setscrews 1), and provided with apivot-pin 0' upon its upper side, which projects'loosely through the plate a, and at its under side with a stud f, and a standard having at its upper end a socket g to receive the said stud, as shown and described.

2. The combination of the standard E, a Windlass-frame consisting of two side bars 0, having at the rear end a collar and set-screw Z and at the front end a downward cross-bar o, a crank-shaft turning in said frame, and a reel on the said shaft between the sidebars.

3. The combination of the two standards E, a cord connecting them, and a center-prop N, having a vertically-adj ustable collar t, provided with bent prongs or hooks o '0', one

above the other, with their hooked ends pro-- jecting toward each other,bnt turned obliquely and passing each other with an open space between them, thereby forming an open-eye as specified. 7

4c. The combination, with the level-body A, of a spirit-glass D, a boss at one end with a sight-bore through it, and an adjustable ,setscrew entered at the under side upward and penetrating the said sight-bore.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWTARD REICHENBACH.

Witnesses: A. O. BABENDREIER,

JNo. T. MAnDoX. 

